Elk Ridge Golf Course: links feel, Columbia Gorge views, and plenty of sand

Elk Ridge Golf Course in Carson plays across rolling hills with forested edges and long looks toward the Columbia Gorge. The round moves at a steady pace, asks for confident tee shots, and rewards smart navigation around its many bunkers.

Elk Ridge Golf Course Fast Facts

Course Overview

Elk Ridge Golf Course sits on a rolling bench above the Columbia River with a links vibe, tree lined stretches, and views that open up across the Gorge. The routing works over gentle elevation, then rises and falls enough to change how shots land. Forty bunkers are used as targets and guardrails, so placement off the tee matters as much as raw distance.

Those traits shape decisions all day. Tee shots that favor the wide, bunkerless side of fairways set up cleaner approaches. Morning rounds are typically calmer, while afternoons see more breeze, so club selection shifts as the day goes on. On uphill approaches take the extra club, on downwind holes allow for more rollout and land the ball short of back hole locations to avoid chasing into sand.

Hole-by-Hole Highlights

• Favor the spacious side away from the largest bunker clusters to keep approach angles open.

• When elevation climbs, choose the number that flies to the middle. Front pins can lure shots into guarding traps.

• Downhill par 4s invite driver, but a fairway wood to your favorite yardage often avoids fairway bunkers.

• On crosswind holes, start the ball on the windward edge of fairways and let it work back. Most misses that find sand turn birdie looks into up-and-down saves.

• Long par 3s play a half club more in the morning chill and a club less with a helping afternoon breeze.

• Where greens sit slightly above the surrounds, land approaches on the front third to control hop and spin.

• When bunker lips are the main penalty, take your medicine with a layup that leaves a full wedge rather than flirting with the collar.

• On closing stretches with views, pick a precise intermediate target to quiet the eye and commit to the line.

Amenities & Practice

Online tee times are available, and phone booking is posted. Course policies and dress code are outlined on the club site. The on-property restaurant provides a convenient place to meet before the round or settle in after.

Food & Beverage

The Elk Ridge Clubhouse serves a varied menu with posted weekly hours that include weekend morning service and evening dinners.

Rates / Booking / Local Tips

Book online or by phone through the club, and check posted specials before you play. As of August 2025, 18 holes are listed at $65 on weekdays and $75 on weekends, with 9-hole, senior, and junior options also posted. Afternoons can bring more wind, so if scoring is the goal at Elk Ridge Golf Course, consider an early tee time. Dress code is enforced, so arrive in collared shirts or neat attire that meets the guidelines.

How to Score Here

• Use the calmer morning window to attack scoring holes at Elk Ridge Golf Course, then shift to conservative lines when the breeze comes up.

• Play to the fat side away from bunker clusters, even if it adds a few yards. Angle beats raw distance on most approaches.

• Adjust landing spots for elevation. Uphill targets need extra carry, while downhill greens reward landing short and letting the ball release.

• When in doubt around sand, choose the layup that leaves a full spinny wedge rather than a delicate partial from an awkward lie.

Final Word

If you enjoy shaping tee shots, threading approaches between sand, and watching the Columbia Gorge frame your round, Elk Ridge Golf Course delivers a clean, links-leaning test without fuss.

This course is one of many featured in the Washington Golf Directory. Your guide to Washington State public golf courses, local driving ranges, and weekend-worthy golf getaways. Whether you’re playing nine before work or planning a road trip across the state, we’re here to help you explore more golf, one course at a time.